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Remember your BB gun? Well, now instead of a steel ball bearing, imagine a plastic one. Then, instead of the primitive lever-operated or pull-back spring system, substitute an electric motor with gears: Airsoft guns.
Since then, technology and refinement have increased in leaps and bounds, and now there are hundreds of guns, of varying quality and types, to choose from. This has also been fuelled by the fastest growing outdoor sport since 2001 - called simply Airsoft.
Although many different producers made a great variety of different systems and calibres, it has generally been agreed that 6 or 8mm BBs are the way to go. And no longer a lever-activated or spring-cocked firing system: a battery-operated electric motor that, through a system of gears, pushes a BB into the chamber, pulls back a spring and then fires it, then repeats. This spawned the acronym AEF - Automatic Electric Gun.
The Airsoft gun fires pellets at around 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second). These are fired at rates of 300 to 2000 BBs per minute. Gun capacity is limited by the magazine size: low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap: around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. The BBs in the magazines are pushed into the chamber by a spring, or by a manually-operated ratchet. Also available are electrically-operated magazines that may hold up to 5000 pellets. When entering a MilSom Airsoft game, however, you may need to prove you have limited capacity of a certain number of pellets to make for a more true to life gaming experience.
Gas-powered Airsoft guns are also becoming more refined, and as a result, more popular. The main reason for their popularity is the more genuine-feeling recoil and sound. There are even some gas propellants that include a scent and silicone oil to heighten this feeling. These guns are powered more commonly by propane, which may also be recharged from a propane bottle used for camping. Gas-powered guns have a smaller firing mechanism than electric, and are therefore more common in pistols than battery power. The AEG type of gun has a longer range and duration of use than gas.
Although Airsoft guns used to be made almost entirely out of plastic, aluminium and alloys are now seeing their way into manufacture, for durability and increased power. Some AEGs, especially when used in military simulations, also contain lead weights to make them feel more like authentic weapons.
Airsoft guns usually have a muzzle velocity of 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). You can modify the guts of the gun to supercharge it up to 180 m/s (590 ft/s). Another modification is a hop-up unit, which puts backspin on the BB. This creates greater lift, and therefore greater range. Airsoft gun range can be 75 metres (250 ft) or more.
You can buy Airsoft paint balls for your gun, to ensure that your hit is acknowledged. However, this benefit may be outweighed by the weak ball rupturing in your expensive gun, causing it to block. When this happens it is extremely difficult to clean, causing an effective write off.
Since then, technology and refinement have increased in leaps and bounds, and now there are hundreds of guns, of varying quality and types, to choose from. This has also been fuelled by the fastest growing outdoor sport since 2001 - called simply Airsoft.
Although many different producers made a great variety of different systems and calibres, it has generally been agreed that 6 or 8mm BBs are the way to go. And no longer a lever-activated or spring-cocked firing system: a battery-operated electric motor that, through a system of gears, pushes a BB into the chamber, pulls back a spring and then fires it, then repeats. This spawned the acronym AEF - Automatic Electric Gun.
The Airsoft gun fires pellets at around 200 to 500 feet per second (60 to 150 metres per second). These are fired at rates of 300 to 2000 BBs per minute. Gun capacity is limited by the magazine size: low cap: around 50 BBs, mid cap: around 120 BBs, or high-cap: 200-500+ BBs. The BBs in the magazines are pushed into the chamber by a spring, or by a manually-operated ratchet. Also available are electrically-operated magazines that may hold up to 5000 pellets. When entering a MilSom Airsoft game, however, you may need to prove you have limited capacity of a certain number of pellets to make for a more true to life gaming experience.
Gas-powered Airsoft guns are also becoming more refined, and as a result, more popular. The main reason for their popularity is the more genuine-feeling recoil and sound. There are even some gas propellants that include a scent and silicone oil to heighten this feeling. These guns are powered more commonly by propane, which may also be recharged from a propane bottle used for camping. Gas-powered guns have a smaller firing mechanism than electric, and are therefore more common in pistols than battery power. The AEG type of gun has a longer range and duration of use than gas.
Although Airsoft guns used to be made almost entirely out of plastic, aluminium and alloys are now seeing their way into manufacture, for durability and increased power. Some AEGs, especially when used in military simulations, also contain lead weights to make them feel more like authentic weapons.
Airsoft guns usually have a muzzle velocity of 50 m/s (160 ft/s) to around 125 m/s (410 ft/s). You can modify the guts of the gun to supercharge it up to 180 m/s (590 ft/s). Another modification is a hop-up unit, which puts backspin on the BB. This creates greater lift, and therefore greater range. Airsoft gun range can be 75 metres (250 ft) or more.
You can buy Airsoft paint balls for your gun, to ensure that your hit is acknowledged. However, this benefit may be outweighed by the weak ball rupturing in your expensive gun, causing it to block. When this happens it is extremely difficult to clean, causing an effective write off.
About the Author:
Author information: Anthony Carter enjoys everything about airsoft guns. If you want to find a good airsoft gun then JD Airsoft Guns is where you should look.
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